Katie Reviews~ Travellers to Unimaginable Lands by Dasha Kiper* TW

*Trigger Warning - mentions of Dementia.

This is a book I never thought I would need, but ultimately it has been a balm to my aching heart, as a carer reading about the struggles of diseases has never been easy. But this book called to me and made me feel seen. Yes, this book goes into detail about some of the heart-breaking symptoms and struggles that patients face, but mainly it focuses on the struggles and difficulties neurological illnesses have on the person looking after the patient and how difficult it can be coming to terms with the changes you witness in the person you love.

Each chapter of this book highlights different stories from different caregivers about different symptoms of this neurological disease.  One of my favourite chapters which I think is due to my love for books is the chapter where Ida invites the author Franz Kafka (he has long since died) to dinner. This really highlights how different reality can be for a person living with a neurological disease and the difficulty faced by Henry who feels invisible as he's sat at the table and can't see Kafka.

One thing I truly connected with was the way Kiper highlights with the help of Dr Sack’s book that the man who mistook his wife for a hat, how it is out of desperation caregivers argue with their patients trying to express how their reality is different to what is actually happening. This is explained in a respectful and compassionate way, as the caregivers need to re-establish a shared reality and that the caregivers healthy brain struggles to move past the bias that not every brain is healthy and that their loved one's reality is different to their own.

Ultimately this book made me feel like I wasn't alone with the struggles of caring for a family member and that there's an entire community out there going through the same difficulties. Kiper references other works of fiction and research to highlight many of the observations she makes throughout this book, which has left me with a rather long list of books to read. This book beautifully blends neuroscience, psychology, philosophy, and caregiver experiences together to make a wonderfully funny at times true reflection of caring for those with a neurological disease.

To purchase this book please click here.